Shake responsive handheld device and method

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a shake responsive handheld device. The handheld device comprises a motion sensor, a storage unit, and a processor. The motion sensor detects a shaking motion of the handheld device initiated by a user. The storage unit stores a plurality of first type media files and a relation table. The first type media files are used for reproducing a sound of tumbling dice in a dice shaker and the relation table is used for defining a plurality of shaking levels, each of which corresponds with one of the first type media files. The processor, in response to signals from the motion sensor, monitors the shaking level of the shaking motion to identify one of the first type media files corresponding to the shake level according to the relation table and plays the identified first type media file until the shaking level changes.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to shake responsive handheld devices and, more specifically, to a shake responsive handheld device for simulating dice shaking and method thereof.

2. General Background

Many portable computing devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, and portable media players, enable users to play games of chance, for example, games that require a user to roll simulated dice and make moves based upon the outcome of the dice roll. One common dice game for Motorola and Nokia mobile phones is “Jacado Dice,” a game in which players place bets and press a button to toss the simulated dice.

In general, such dice games operate by rolling the dice for the user automatically or based upon a simple button press, which differs significantly from the experience of physically rolling dice. In the real world, there is a causal relationship between physically tossing dice and observing the outcome that has made dice games so popular over the centuries.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a handheld device that can be shaken to simulate dice rolling in the real world.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a shake responsive handheld device. The handheld device comprises a motion sensor, a storage unit, and a processor. The motion sensor detects a shaking motion of the handheld device initiated by a user. The storage unit stores a plurality of first type media files and a relation table. The first type media files are used for reproducing sounds of tumbling dice in a dice shaker and the relation table is used for defining a plurality of shaking levels, each of which corresponds with one of the first type of media files. The processor, in response to signals from the motion sensor, monitors the shaking level of the shaking motion to identify one of the first type media files corresponding to the shake level according to the relation table. The first type media file is then played until the shaking level changes.

Other features and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the accompanying drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of a shake responsive handheld device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a handheld device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for simulating dice shaking implemented by the handheld device of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a handheld device 100 includes a processor 110, a motion sensor 120, a storage unit 130, a decoding unit 140, a speaker 150, and a display 160. The processor 110 includes a shake level identification module 111, a media files identification module 112, and a control module 113.

The motion sensor 120 is coupled to the processor 110 and is used for detecting a shake motion of the handheld device 100 initiated by a user. In one exemplary embodiment, the motion sensor 120 is an acceleration sensor.

The storage unit 130 can be any appropriate storage medium, such as a read-only memory or a random-access memory, and stores a plurality of shaking media files. The shaking media files are used for reproducing sounds of tumbling dice in a dice shaker with different shake strengths, which are different from each other in sound volume, sound frequency etc. When needed, different types of shaking media files may be created for reproducing different types of sounds in order to adapt to the game being played. For example, such sounds may include rolling dice in a wooden or metallic dice shaker.

Each of the shaking media files is associated with a shake level that indicates a shake strength of the shake motion imparted to the handheld device 100. The shake levels may vary for different users, wherein different shake levels may be set for adults and children, thereby allowing all users to obtain the same gaming experience.

The storage unit 130 also stores a relation table. The relation table is configured for recording relationship between shake levels and the shaking media files. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the shake levels corresponds to a shaking media file.

The storage unit 130 also stores a fade-out media file. The fade-out media file is configured for reproducing a sound effect of tumbling dice that roll inertially and gradually come to a stop in a dice shaker after the shaking of the dice shaker has ceased. The fade-out media file is associated with a zero shake level, which indicates that the shake motion imparted to the handheld device 100 has ceased. The storage unit 130 also stores a simulation program that is activated to provide a moving graphical representation of tumbling dice and generate a random game result.

During the shaking of the handheld device 100, the motion sensor 120 detects the acceleration of the handheld device 100 and sends signals to the shake level identification module 111. The shake level identification module 111 determines whether the shake motion of the handheld device 100 ceases by analyzing the acceleration signals from the motion sensor 120. Similar technology for determining the cessation of shake motions has been disclosed in US Patent Publication No. 20070125852 A1.

The shake level identification module 111 also computes the shake level of the shake motion imparted to the handheld device 100 according to the acceleration of the handheld device 100. When the shake motion ceases, the shake level of the shake motion is identified to be the zero shake level.

In the exemplary embodiment, each of the shake levels, which are defined in the relation table, corresponds to one predetermined acceleration range. That is, a plurality of accelerations may correspond to a same shake level. In order to obtain different shake levels, it is operable to shake the handheld device 100 with the varying of the acceleration value of the handheld device 100.

The media files identification module 112 is used for determining a media file according to the shake level determined by the shake level identification module 111 and the relation table. Typically, when the shake motion does not cease, the media files identification module 112 determines one of the shaking media files, which corresponds to the shake level, according to the relation table. When the shake motion ceases, the shake level is identified to be zero shake level and the media files identification module 112 determines that the corresponding media file is the fade-out media file.

The control module 113 controls the hand held device 100 to play the media files determined by the media files identification module 112. Different shake levels may be reached during the shaking of the handheld device 100 and during the duration of one of the shake levels. The media file corresponding to the shake level is played until the shake level changes.

Thus, during shaking the handheld device 100, a user can shake the handheld device 100 with different shake levels to obtain different sound effects generated from different shaking media files corresponding to the varying shake levels. Furthermore, once the shake motion has ceased, the user can obtain the sound effect of the fade-out media file. In other words, the handheld device 100 is capable of providing the user with a realistic feel of physically shaking dice.

During the playing of the shaking media files and the fade-out media file, the simulation program is activated to provide users with a moving graphical representation of rolling dice and generate a game result randomly after the fade-out media file finishes playing.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method for providing the handheld device 100 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In step S21, the handheld device 100 with the motion sensor 120 is provided. In step S22, the plurality of shaking media files, along with the fade-out media file, are created.

In step S23, each of the plurality of shaking media files is correlated with a shake level of the shake motion of the handheld device 100. In step S24, the processor 110 of the handheld device 100 keeps determining whether the shake motion of the handheld device 100 ceases and computing a shake level of the shake motion.

In step S25, when the shake motion does not cease, the processor 110 keeps playing a shaking media file until the shake level changes. In step S26, when the shake motion ceases, the processor 110 plays the fade-out media file. In step S27, the simulation program generates a game result after the fade-out media file finishes playing.

While one embodiment has been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be constructed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A shake responsive handheld device comprising: a motion sensor for detecting a shaking motion of the handheld device initiated by a user; a storage unit storing a plurality of first type media files and a relation table, wherein the first type media files are configured for reproducing sounds of tumbling dice in a dice shaker and the relation table is configured for defining a plurality of shaking levels, each of which corresponds to one of the first type media files; and a processor, wherein the processor, in response to signals from the motion sensor, is capable of monitoring the shaking level of the shaking motion to identify one of the first type media files corresponding to the shake level according to the relation table and playing the identified one of the first type media files until the shaking level changes.
 2. The shake responsive handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is an acceleration sensor.
 3. The shake responsive handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores a second type media file for reproducing a sound effect of tumbling dice that roll inertially in a dice shaker after the shaking of the dice shaker has ceased, when having determined that the shaking motion of the handheld device ceases, the processor plays the second type media file.
 4. The shake responsive handheld device according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit further stores a simulation program for generating a game result after the second type media file finishes playing.
 5. The shake responsive handheld device according to claim 4 further comprises a display unit for displaying the result.
 6. The shake responsive handheld device according to claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a shake level identification module, a media files identification module, and a control module, the shake level identification module is capable of computing the shaking level of the shake motion, the media files identification module is capable of identifying one of the first type media files corresponding to the shake level according to the relation table, the control module is capable of playing the identified one of the first type media files.
 7. A method for providing a handheld device for simulating dice shaking comprising: providing a handheld device with a motion sensor; providing a plurality of first type media files for reproducing sounds of tumbling dice in a dice shaker, and a second type media file for reproducing a sound of tumbling dice that roll inertially in the dice shaker after the shaking of the dice shaker has ceased; correlating each of the first type media files with a shake level; monitoring a shake motion of the handheld device to continuously identify whether the shake motion ceases and computing a shake level of the shake motion; playing one of the first type media files corresponding to the shake level when the shake motion does not cease; playing the second type media file when the shake motion has ceased; generating a game result after the second type of media file finishes playing. 